New Challenges to Academic Freedom in the United States

Writing in International Higher Education, Robert M. O'Neil's is one of three related articles in the Fall 2009 issue: "Academic freedom in American higher education evolves in curious and often unpredictable ways. For those who teach at public or state-supported institutions, the courts play a major role in defining the scope of such freedom. For faculty at independent or private colleges and universities, whose policies are seldom subject to court review, standards are provided by organizations such as the American Association of University Professors. Some faculties at institutions of both types may also be protected by collective bargaining agreements. After a decade or so with relatively few critical tests of the rights and liberties of US scholars, the past year or two has brought academic freedom to the fore in dramatic fashion. Three current tests merit special attention." They are the cases of John Yoo, William Robinson, and Ward Churchill.

Academic Freedom: A Realistic Appraisal

Writing in International Higher Education, Philip G. Altbach's is one of three related articles in the Fall 2009 issue:

Academic freedom does not essentially concern how universities are managed, whether they are adequately funded or even how the faculty is compensated. This privilege does not ensure that professors have a role in governance but should guarantee that they can speak out on internal management issues without fear of sanction. Academic freedom does not relate to accountability. Universities may legitimately demand appropriate productivity from faculty members. Professors’ work may be evaluated, and inadequate performance may lead to sanctions or even, in extreme cases, firing, but only after careful procedures that do not violate academic freedom. Academic freedom protects professorial freedom of teaching, research, and expression—and nothing else.

The Economic Collapse and Educational Values

The president of Hampshire College muses on the education received by those responsible for the current financial crisis. He likes portfolios:

Get the best result now and don’t worry about the day after tomorrow. Maximize stock value at the end of the quarter. That way you’ll get the biggest bonus package this year. Is there a way to take advantage of market movements and make a killing tomorrow, in the next hour, in the next 10 minutes?

It goes on. Get as many folks signed up for mortgages at the low introductory interest rate and don’t worry about what happens when the rate resets. Home buyers: Get that introductory rate. Don’t worry about resets or the possibility the economy may sour. Back to brokers and local banks: Take the commissions and sell the mortgages now. Bigger banks: Bundle those mortgages and take the profits by selling them. Get the risk off your books. Put it elsewhere. Don’t worry what happens once you resell the mortgage. Just jump that next hurdle.

The system we use to grade students doesn’t just mirror this scale of values. It blesses and promotes it.